Okra, Aubergine & Squid Sambal

When I was studying abroad, the food I miss the most is spicy food. Seriously, spicy food is just planted in our taste bud which I think most of us (Malaysian) will dying to pay whatever it cost for a decent Malaysian Cuisine in the western country. Well, now you don't have to. All you need is just scroll down this page and the recipe is just right there. :-)

 

 

Ingredients
100 gm Okra
100 gm Aubergine
200 gm Squid (cut ring)
2 Onion (cut coarse)
150 gm Sambal (chili-based sauce)
1 cup Water
1 teaspoon Corn Flour
Sugar and salt to taste

Method
1. Preheat wok, add in a little cooking oil. Stir in Onion, Okra and Aubergine. Stir fried for 3 minutes.
2. Stir in Sambal, add squid. Add starch, salt & sugar to taste.

Stir Fried Okra and Aubergine with Shrimp Sambal

A typical Malaysian cuisine, Stir Fried Okra and Aubergine with Shrimp Sambal. Some like it with gravy and I like it dry. The smell of the shrimp sambal is so appetizing specially for those who misses spicy food for years. I'll always go for simple and easy cooking so instead of pounding and blending the chili, I bought the ready pack from the supermarket. It's the same, perhaps you could avoid unnecessary tears.

Stir Fried Okra and Aubergine with Shrimp Sambal.

Ingredients
200 gm Okra
200 gm Aubergine
1 cup dried shrimp
2 teaspoon chopped garlic
100 gm Sambal (chili-based sauce)
Sugar and salt to taste

Method
1. Preheat wok, add in a little cooking oil. Add in chopped garlic, stir fried for 1 minute, add dried
    shrimp and stir fried till the shrimp looks golden but not dark .
2. Stir in Sambal, add the Okra and Aubergine. Add dash of salt and sugar to taste.

Kiddy Pork and Vege in Tomato Sauce

To cook a Kiddy Meal is not that simple, first you need to know if your audience do have the interest on food or not? Like me, my "audience" which is also my daughter is a very picky eater. So to make her love my cooking and finish them fast it's a tough cookie!

If you have a picky one at home like me, try this simple, colourful and yummy dish. Simple preparation and easy cooking method. All you need is Pork, Cauliflower, Green Pea and Tomato Ketchup. My daughter loves the cauliflower and green pea because they looks like a tiny tree and a tiny melon to her yet they taste lovely! 

Good Luck!

Cauliflower, Greenbean & Pork slices in tomato sauce.

Ingredients
1 cup cauliflower
1 cup green pea (I used the frozen type)
50gm Pork Slice (Marinate with soya sauce)
1 cup light Starch
2 tablespoon Tomato Ketchup
1 tablespoon Oyster Sauce
1 small onion (slice)

Method
1. Preheat wok, add in cooking oil. Put in sliced pork, stir fried for 2 minutes.
2. Add in onion, cauliflower and green pea stir fried for another 3 minutes.
3. Mix starch, tomato ketchup and oyster sauce and add in to simmer for 2 minutes.
4. Done!

Simplee Dinner Ideas : Steam Cod Fish

Steam fish is a very simple yet appetizing dish. The smell of a freshly cooked steam fish with it's gravy it's just heaven. Specially when  you pair it with a bowl of hot steamy white fragrant rice. If you love fish, try it steamed, all you need is a piece of nice Cod Fish, some dried wolfberries, scallion, ginger and rice wine.

Preparation time: 10min
Cooking time: 10min

Steam Cod Fish with Ginger & Scallion

Tamagoyaki Bedded with Aromatic French Beans

Sometimes when you are running out of ideas what to cook for dinner then you will probably like me, came up with something totally new or fusion. I love to combine ingredients or dishes and make them a total new recipe.

For this recipe, I have combine the very common, Japanese style egg omelette or better known as Tamagoyaki with the Chinese style Stir fried french bean with salted minced pork, sounds weird? But my husband gave me two thumbs up :-)

Stir fried french bean in chinese style with salted preserved radish, dried shrimp and minced pork.

Tamagoyaki. Japanese style omelette, which is made by rolling together several layers of cooked egg.

Tamago is made by combining eggs, dash of sugar and soy sauce.

Tamagoyaki Bedded with Aromatic French Beans.

A closer look of tamagoyaki.

Ingredients
2 egg
200 gm Mince Pork
120 gm French Beans
1 cup Dried Shirmp
1/2 cup Salted Radish
1 table spoon Rice Wine
1 teaspoon Soya Sauce
1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
2 teaspoon Canola Oil
1/2 cup of Water
1 teaspoon of Corn Flour
Salt & Sugar to taste
 
Method
1. To cook tamagoyaki, beat eggs then add in soya sauce, sesame oil and sugar.
2. In a frying pan, layer egg batter, gently fold in from one corner. At least 3 folds to achieve a nice
    thick effect.
3. Marinate mince pork with soya sauce and sesame oil.
4. Blanch the french bean ahead, then set aside.
5. Fried shrimp ahead, then set aside.
6. Preheat a work, add some canola oil. When the oil is in medium heat add in marinated mince pork
    and fried till cook, add in radish. Stir fried for another 2 minutes. Add in french beans, stir fried with
    dash of salt to taste. Lastly, add in starch to make gravy.

Char Siu (BBQ Pork Belly)

Do-it-yourself! I love exploring my new oven, so today I will be cooking "Char Siu (BBQ Pork Belly)". This is a simple dish, all you need is the right marinate and the perfect grill. First, buy a piece of nice pork belly. I will go for the same butcher , build a good relationship so he will reserve the best part for you (if you are lucky). 

Marinate this pork belly for approximately 2 hours, keep it refrigerated then bring it out and keeping it at room temperature at least 30 minutes before putting it in the oven to grill. I set the oven to 280°F and grill for an hour (plus & minus). In between the grilling process, do turn the pork belly every 30 minutes. Whilst grilling, I do apply the sauce that used for marinate for a better coating and it could lock the moist too.

Grilling time varies according to type of ovens

Whilst grilling, apply the sauce that used for marinate for a better coating.

A piece of nice Char Siu is done!

Ingredients
500 gm Pork Belly
2 cup Honey
3/4 cup Soya Sauce
1 cup Dark Soya
4 tablespoon Chinese 5 Spice Powder

*Above ingredients are based on my own tastebud, if you prefer sweeter or saltier you could adjust the ratio.

Method
1. Mix all the ingredients. marinate for 2 hours or more. Keep it refrigerated.
2. Bring it out, keep at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
3. Grill at 280°F for 1 hour, in between the grilling process, do turn the pork belly every 30 minutes.
    Whilst grilling, I do apply the sauce that used for marinate for a better coating and it could lock the
    moist too.

* Cooking times are approximate and varies depending on the type of ovens used, please do judge the cooking time accordingly.

Chicken Katsu/Breaded Chicken Breast

If you are a big fan of deep fried food, then you might want to try this simple recipe for dinner. Quite simple recipe that requires very simple ingredients, mostly whatever you could get from your refrigerator. In Japanese, they call this Tonkatsu and normally eat with white rice and miso soup.

Chicken Katsu/Breaded Chicken Breast

Ingredients

300 gm Chicken Breast

1 egg

2 cups Dried Bread Crumbs

2 tablespoons Soya Sauce

2 tablespoons Rice Wine
1 teaspoon Sesame Oil

1 teaspoon Pepper

2 cups Canola Oil

Methods

1. Marinate chicken breast with Soya Sauce, Rice Wine, Sesame Oil and Pepper for 2 hours.

2. Beat egg and set it in a flat plate so that you could fully coat the chicken breast.

3. After coating the chicken breast with egg, coat it with Dried Bread Crumbs. Make sure you cover
    all the chicken breast surface with the crumbs.

4. Heat canola oil in a deep frier, fry the coated chicken breasts till golden in colour.

Hearty Homemade ABC Soup

In Chinese's culture soup is like the soul of all food. You might skip lunch and dinner but with a bowl of hot nice home-made soup, you just feel rejuvenated! My dad cook the nicest soup I ever tasted. His soups are so tasty and nutrient, believe me even my picky daughter loves it.

It's very simple, all that matters are the ingredients. He insisted of using pork ribs or pork tail because these are the part of the pig that has less fat (remember it's less fat not none fat). He added some fried scallops too for  the extra sweetness in the soup.

Like me, I wouldn't have the time to look after the cooking progress of the soup, so I cook it using a slow cooker. Just chucked everything in, and you can enjoy a hearty soup after 4 hours of double boiling or alternatively, just cook up using a kitchen gas stove and that's only takes 2 hours.

Homemade ABC Soup with dried scallops.

Kiddy Porky Ring with Oyster Sauce Gravy

I was suppose to make pork patty for dinner, but after all I have switched from patty to pork rings. They look much fun and hope my picky eater at home will gulp down faster. This dish is very simple, need not overnight marinade nor per-preparation. I used minced pork and broccoli and carrot as the side dishes. You may replace with any vegetables of your choice.

First, mix all seasonings. Then make a round ball, flatten it by pressing them in between your palms and lastly use your thumb to make hole in the middle. There you go, a pork ring is done. Besides looking fun, it also reduces it's cooking time.

Get your wok/frying pan heated, add in an adequate amount of sunflower seed oil. When the oil is heated put in the pork ring one by one and fry them till golden. Set aside on a serving plate. Using another skillet, cook the gravy and then add in the cut broccoli and carrot which has been blanched earlier on. Lastly, add the pork rings just to coat with gravy. Done! Enjoy it with fragrant rice, and hope you and your little ones will love it.

Kids could just poke it with their index
fingers and eat right there.

Porky Ring with Oyster Gravy side with carrots & broccoli.

Stuffed Fish Bladder with Fish Paste

In Asian cultures, Fish Maw or Fish Bladders of certain large sea fishes (花膠/鱼鳔) are considered a food delicacy. It believed to be a good source of collagen, and that's why it has become the favorite among ladies. You can buy these at any Chinese grocery store, the premium's quality ones can range from hundreds. 

Today, I'm trying this recipe using "fried swim bladder" which I bought from a well known Chinese grocery store located in down towm of Kuala Lumpur (near Central Market). This cost me RM 50 for less than 100 gm. Before you cook this "fried swim bladder" you need to wash them and blanch it with hot water to get rid of it's oily taste. Soak for another 10 minutes or when it turn a little spongy, drain the water and cut them into the length of 6 cm long. Stuff them with fish paste, set aside.

In a boiling pot of water, blanch it till the fish paste is cook or when it floods on top of the surface. Drain the stuffed fish bladders, set aside on a clean bowl. In another pot, make egg drop soup then add all stuffed fish bladders in. A hearty dish is done!

Stuffed swim bladder, cooked with egg-drop soup nice side Kai-lan.

Love the chicken broth.

Ingredients

4 fried swim bladder (makes 8 stuffed swim bladders)
1 egg (egg-drop)
1 cup fish paste
3 cup chicken broth

Methods

1.Blanch fried swim bladders, to get rid of it's oily taste. Drained well, start stuffing fish paste.

2.Blanch stuffed swim bladders, when cooked drained and set aside.

3.In another pot, make egg drop soup then add all stuffed swim bladders in. Done.

Sunny Side on Wholemeal Toast with Olive Oil

If you are planning to have something light and healthy for brunch, I would suggest this fast & easy recipe. And it taste as good as it smells.

Heat the pan, add 1 table spoon olive oil and spread evenly. Once oil is heated, place a slice of whole meal bread in the pan. Slightly move the pan, fry for 1 minute each side. Set aside on a plate.

Use the same pan with the remaining oil, fry an egg (sunny-side up). Sprinkle a dash of sea salt & some italian herbs flakes. Enjoy the toast while hot. I personally like to eat with peanut butter :-)

Sprinkle a dash of sea salt & some italian herbs flakes

Sunny Side on Wholemeal Toast with Olive Oil

American Ginseng Tea

American Ginseng is widely used in Chinese cooking because Chinese believed it has benefits that could destress and energised someone's mind. Specially if you are a working mum like me you might want to pamper yourself with a cup of American Ginseng Tea. I would enjoy a cup of American Ginseng in the morning or right before lunch, as our body tend to absorb more nutrition before meal. By adding a dash of salt to the tea, it could help reduce body heat as a natural cooling agent...

American Ginseng Tea

Kiddy Custard-like Steam Egg

I have a picky eater at home, she probably will tell you she is not hungry or she wants only a glass of milk. So as a mother, of course I wish to provide her a more nutritious meal. Since she loves milk & egg, I came up with this easy and high protein meal. Busy mummy out there could just spare 15 minutes and a hearty meal is ready.

One "Kampung" egg. Kampung egg means free range egg. Old folks believe
it contains more nutrition.

Lightly beats the egg.

I add in formula milk of my child, approximately 2 scoops, beats to mix well.

Add 1-2 drops of soya, just to taste.

Sieve the egg mixture, to prevent foams on top for a smoother surface.

Start steaming in High heat for 5 minutes.

Voila!

Ready to be served!

My daughter loves this Custard-like Steam Egg, sometimes I would add in some chopped spinach as well ... Hope your children love it too. ;-)

Youtube link

Char Siu Sou (BBQ Pork Pastry)

I love BBQ sauce, specially cook with pork with little fat. Char Siu Sou is a very common and popular dimsum dish. If you are a fan just like me, I have a very simple recipe that you could do it at home. I use the BBQ pork that sell at the Chicken Rice stall. And the pastry is from the ready roll puff pastry which you could get it from most if the local supermarket. I used Brog, love the texture and taste but you could use any other brand.

Char Siu Sou with tender BBQ pork

Glaze the Char Siu Sou with some egg white.

Char Siu Sou fresh from oven, enjoy them with a cup of hot green tea or flavored tea.

Ingredients

100 gm Char Siu

2 Sheets of Ready Roll Puff Pastry

1 tablespoon Sesame

1 egg white

2 tablespoons Oyster Sauce

1 teaspoon sugar

2 tablespoons water

Method
1. Cut Char Siu into cubes. In a pan, mix water, oyster sauce, sugar and bring to boil.
    Add in Char Siu. Mix well with gravy.
2. Cut Puff Pastry in to squares, around 10 squares (8cm x 8cm)

3. Brown the sesame

4. Put in the Cjar Siu filling in the middle of the square base puff pastry, fold over to
    form a triangle. Close the opening with some corn starch. Apply egg white as glaze
    then sprinkle some sesame on top of it.

5. Put into a preheated Oven, bake till puff pastry turn golden.

Honey Mustard Dressing Salad

Sometimes when you don't feel like having meat nor pasta, salad will be the answer. I like this dressing so much and it actually goes well with any kind of green. I prefer Iceberg lettuce as it's very easy to source and it really serve the icy textured. My salad is very simple, all you need is just anything you could get from your fridge. Egg, Mustard, Sour Cream, Mayo & Honey. I skipped the vinegar, because I don't like it sour, if you are a fan of vinegar you could add in a few drops.

Honey Mustard Dressing

Ingredients

2 tablespoon Mustard

1 cup Mayonnaise

1 cup Sour Cream

2 tablespoon Honey

2 Eggs

1 Iceberg Lettuce

Methods

1.Mix all the wet ingredients and whisk well.
2.Boil eggs and remove the shell. Quarter the eggs.
3.Place the clean Iceberg Lettuce at the bottom of a Salad Bowl, top with eggs and
   drizzle with Honey Mustard Dressing.  

Button Mushroom served with Fragrant Rice

Slice mushrooms as desired shapes, I like it thin

.

To clean the button mushrooms, all you need to do it just rinse them
under running tap water. Remember not to soak them in the water to
avoid soggy mushrooms. Slice them thinly.

Get the pan heated, pour in a little amount of sunflower seed oil.
Add in about a teaspoon of  minced garlic, stir it. When the garlic
turns a little yellowish add in mushrooms and stir fry for about
1-2 minutes, lastly add in 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce and stir well.

I did not add any water, as the mushroom will become soft and expel
some water.

Add in some chopped parsley.

Voila! Ready to be served with fragrant rice.